Podcast : Audio On YOUR Time

Podcasting Tutorial : Podcasting for Fun and Profit

Podcasting is like broadcasting in that someone creates a show for an audience.  The difference is that broadcasting is done for a general audience to tune in (through television, radio, or Internet radio) while podcasting is much different, you can target a specific niche which makes the power of podcasting much more exciting.

 "A podcast is like an audio magazine subscription: a subscriber receives regular audio programs delivered via the internet, and they can listen to them at their leisure."¹

Downloading audio is nothing new

People have been downloading and listening to audio for years, whether buying tunes from iTunes, downloading them  from file-sharing sites, free band websites, or even such places as www.audible.com where you can buy MP3 files of audiobooks and programs for listening at your convenience.

But the method of receiving programs on a regular basis is relatively new. And the application of software that captures the programs and stores them on your computer has spurred the growth of podcasts.

History of The Podcast

The term 'podcast' came about when Ben Hammersley wrote an article for The Guardian  in February 2004, where he moshed together the terms iPod and broadcasting.

Another pioneer of podcasting is Adam Curry, the blond-locked former MTV veejay, a self-described geek, who helped develop iPodder, a piece of software that allows your PC to automatically download the podcasts and stores them on to your computer.

Adam produces and podcasts the Daily SourceCode, a rambling esoteric program that he just sort of makes up as he goes along, describing his day, his internet world and podcast and whatever the hell else comes up in his fertile mind.

Podcasts Uncensored!

FCC Doesn't Control the 'podwaves'

The government has traditionally had control over the content of radio broadcasts, at least to the extent
that obscenity and indecency are concerned. Once you start listening to podcasts, you soon realize that these podcasters can and do say whatever is on their mind, with no FCC obscenity rules and regulations to hold them back.

Since the podcasts are never broadcast over the radio waves, the FCC rules simply don't apply. Although I just recently read that some legislators want to change that already, perhaps  perceiving the budding podcasters to be a threat to the nation's morality or tender young ears or something

About The Author:
Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon shows you how to create professional, high-quality audio on your home computer. With 25+ years of radio production, writing and voice talent, Tim can show you how to set up a small pro studio and create audio for fun and profit. Subscribe to his free newsletter Digital Audio Bits at http://www.digitalaudioworld.com

© 2005 by Tim Gordon

¹ Source: Wikipedia